ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

Romans 13:1-5 NLT 1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

• The Greek word that Paul uses for “submit” (hypotassō) is a military term that speaks to an army arranging itself in divisions under a commander.
• Without this type of voluntary submission to authority, an army would become very ineffective and each individual soldier would be exposed to unnecessary danger.
• An army that is properly arranged and submitted to their leader’s authority can achieve great things and minimize losses.
• Paul wants us to know that we can experience similar results to a well-organized army when we submit to the governing authorities in our lives.
• Protection and victory are made available to those who willingly submit to authority.

• It would have been very hard for the people of Paul’s time to accept and understand the statement that all authority comes from God. He wrote this during the reign of the Roman Empire, which actively persecuted both Christians and Jews.
• But Paul’s challenge to honor and submit to earthly authorities is really a call to recognize God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereignty extends over all aspects of our lives, including the authorities that govern us.
• DEFINITION – sovereignty: supreme power or authority
• Because God is ultimately in control of our lives, we can trust that he will use the earthly authorities in our lives, Christian or not, to help us achieve our purpose, bring Him glory, and spread the Good News.
• There are times when earthly authorities can be harsh and unfair, like the Roman Empire, but a choice to honor them because we want to honor God will always result in our good.
• Understanding that authorities are established by God helps us see them as part of His divine plan, and helps us to recognize our submission to them is really an act of obedience to Him.

Colossians 3:23-24 ERV – 23 In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master. 24 Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, who will give you what he promised his people. Yes, you are serving Christ. He is your real Master.

• Earthly authorities serve a practical purpose – maintaining order, punishing wrongdoing, and promoting peace. They play a crucial role in creating a stable and just society.
• In fulfilling their role, they are actually serving God’s purpose because God desires order and peace for all of His people.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIRV) – God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace, just as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.

• Recognizing the purpose of authorities should helps us to appreciate their role as God’s servants in our lives.
• These authorities play such an important role in our lives that we also commanded to pray for God to help them in their service.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 – “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

• Praying for those in authority is another way to pray for God’s will to be done in our lives so that we we can live the peaceful, quiet lives he intended.